United States (US) and Israeli strikes have hit the Assembly of Experts building in Qom, the body responsible for appointing Iran’s next supreme leader.
The attack comes days after former supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed during a wave of US-Israeli strikes on Saturday.
Footage aired by local media showed significant structural damage to the Qom complex. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The Assembly of Experts is constitutionally mandated to appoint, supervise and, if necessary, dismiss Iran’s supreme leader. It plays a pivotal role in shaping the country’s political and religious leadership.
Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that the Qom building was no longer being used for official meetings at the time of the strike.
Tasnim added that the main headquarters of the Assembly of Experts in Tehran had also been targeted on Monday.
Iran begins leadership transition
On Sunday, Iranian authorities confirmed the death of Khamenei and announced the start of a formal transition process.
Under the constitution, an interim leadership council will govern the country until a permanent successor is appointed. The council includes the president, the head of the judiciary and a jurist from the Guardian Council — the powerful body responsible for overseeing legislation and vetting electoral candidates.
A key figure in the transition is Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security chief, who is expected to play a central coordinating role.
The interim council will steer the Islamic Republic through one of the most critical political moments in its history as the Assembly of Experts moves to select a new supreme leader.
